Legends Mate

Summary

Scorned siren, Luna, seeks to heal her broken heart on the mystical Wiccan Haus Island, but she doesn’t have a reservation. So, she sneaks onto the island, hoping they’ll let her stay and rent a room. But there has been an assassination threat against one of the Wiccan Haus owners, and Luna’s unscheduled arrival makes her a prime suspect.Nate, a Sasquatch working for the Para-Elite Force, has come to the private island undercover, posing as a guest. He must flush out the assassin. When he’s assigned to trail the hauntingly beautiful siren, everything goes sideways, and Nate is shaken to his core with yearning and desire. His soul mate could be the assassin, and he may have to choose between duty and love.

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Legends Mate - Jennifer W. Smith

Smith

Chapter One

The highest tides on earth occur in the Bay of Fundy. Strong currents created by these tides keep the waters well mixed. This increases the availability of nutrients that aid in fish population, historically deeming it one of the most productive fishing grounds in the world.

A mermaid’s delight.

For weeks, Luna swam the Gulf of Maine’s southern boundary in the cold waters around Georges Bank enjoying the haddock, cod, halibut, flounder, and lobster thriving there. She delighted in maneuvering the strong tidal currents into the icy waters of the Bay of Fundy.

The sun glinted off the deep-blue sea, its reflections winking like floating diamonds, and the breaking waves were white as a harp seal’s fur. Luna sat on the rocky cliffs. Below her, waves crashed against the coastline, molding and altering it with a daily fifty-two-foot tidal range. The scenery around her offered a rugged and beautiful combination, but she failed to enjoy it. Sad and wandering thoughts left her adrift.

The wind shifted, and strands of dark hair slapped across her face. Annoyed, she brushed it away. Luna realized she’d sat long enough for her waist-long hair to dry—completely. Returning to the water wouldn’t comfort her. Though she’d been the one to leave her previous situation—a lover cast aside—this loneliness and isolation made her desperate to find a new life. She couldn’t return. And she’d stalled, swimming the open sea long enough. A destination loomed in her mind.

In the region not far from where she sat was an island—not just any island—but one she’d heard about through hushed tones. It was said the island housed a secluded resort for guests both human and nonhuman. The Wiccan Haus, run by four mystical siblings, was a distinguished place of healing and regeneration. Can the Wiccan Haus and its magic help heal my trampled heart? Many suffered from a broken heart, but surely mine resulted in the cruelest twist of fate.

Riding out with the tide, Luna recalled her adolescent years when the water god discovered her. The moment the water god heard her singing voice, he had swiftly and passionately deemed her his.

She swam faster as she remembered his touch—allowing the memories to ease her sorrow—if only for a little while.

To distinguish her from the others of her kind, the god had immediately given her the ability to walk on land. Her species of female water natives were called sirens by the land-dwellers of her realm because similarly their songs lured victims into the water. Though these distinct females had no tails like the legendary sirens and mermaids of other realms, their legs were not meant to withstand long periods out of the water. This alteration the god had given Luna, to walk on land, had lent to the resentment of the other sirens of her kind, who were already of a spiteful and jealous nature. In a sense, Luna had sisters, but they were a fickle and untrustworthy lot. Returning to their fold after her disgrace was unappealing at best.

The water god favored all the sirens with his attention when he wanted them. However, Luna was his favored one. Not only had he physically altered her, but he’d gifted her with extended life—how could she not love him above all things?

Apparently, he didn’t return her love in the same way. Just two centuries together and then he heartlessly chose another.

Luna was a siren scorned. She would never speak his name, Suijin, again.

Though her kind came from the waters of another realm, she knew of mermaids who flourished in the human oceans. History’s legends of mermaids and sirens ran close. Luna learned a mermaid from the royal family resided on the Wiccan Haus island and helped women in need, her reputation preceded her. Could she help me?

Staying under the water and riding the Eastern Maine Coastal Current, Luna traveled south. She broke the surface. A warm breeze caressed her face. Ahead, a wall of fog met the jewel-toned blue water.

Hmm. A security barrier. I’m in the right place. All I have to do is swim under it.

She dove deep and met resistance—there was something invisible there. The magical force went all the way to the sand, but she was agile and determined to get through it. Her limbs throbbed with discomfort infused by the enchanted magic undulating in the waters around her. It left a zinging undercurrent in her veins, but she’d made it through.

The second obstacle she faced, but outmaneuvered undetected, was the patrols. Heart racing at the thrill of dodging security, she finally broke the surface. The green oasis rose from the sea abundant in lush, green hills, and forests. Intrigued, she swam closer. Near the shore, something in the air evoked a calmness in Luna—balance and Zen buzzed on the breeze. Did guests leave here on this frequency?

During low tide, she walked onto the deserted beach. The zinging sensation, from crossing the magic barrier minutes ago, faded as she shook out her arms. She wrung out her sopping wet, black hair then adjusted the satchel hanging against her halter dress, all the while contemplating what to do next.

She glanced one last time at the fog on the horizon, and pain squeezed her chest. Heartache was a cruel bitch! There is no turning back. I won’t return to watch him put another woman before me. Not again. She squared her narrow shoulders.

Welcome to the Wiccan Haus, a voice rang out.

Twisting around, she gasped. Alarms rang in her head. Trespassing was a crime in the human realm, and she had infiltrated their island’s defenses. Her heartbeat sped up.

A man waltzed out from behind a cluster of barnacle-studded boulders. Two more men dressed in black followed close behind him, their expressions stern and uncompromising. The poised and elegant fellow stopped, smiling like he’d been expecting her arrival. He raised his hand to stay the military twins. Though the smiling man’s clothes billowed around him in a lavender cloud of fabric, it was his long, blond hair that caught Luna’s attention. It was a paler shade of blond hair than the woman who had replaced her.

Oh, hello. I don’t have a reservation, but I’m interested in a room. Are there any available? Patting the satchel at her hip, a thought suddenly occurred to her. How much are the rooms? She visited the human realm often enough to know about currency. The water god had accumulated vast wealth and riches to generate payment for whatever he required. She’d taken money with her before she left but now questioned if she’d taken enough.

The man’s icy-blues gazed on her with kindness. Wiccan Haus is here for those who need it. What is your name?

Luna.

Luna. He rolled the name on his tongue and smiled.

The water god had given her the name. It meant the moon. He’d said her songs drew him to her like the moon’s pull on the tides. Years later, he’d taught her about the other creatures of the land and how the moon called to shifters, changelings, and creatures of the night. She wondered if she would meet any of those kind here on the island.

It seemed the man surmised she wasn’t human. Could he detect she was a siren? Siren’s from her realm had distinct traits; their large eyes and youthful beauty were a hauntingly accurate sign of their identity.

Luna, I’m Cemil, it’s nice to make your acquaintance. My three siblings, Cyrus, Sarka, Sage, and I own and operate the Wiccan Haus. Let’s see about getting you a room. He offered her his arm with a flourish. She folded her small hand into the solid bend of his elbow.

She glanced over her shoulder at the comforting, undulating sea blanket. It was time to move on and put the water god in her past. She turned away from the waves. The military twins fell into step behind them.

If you don’t mind, we’ll take the hill path and stroll by the lake, Cemil said. This island supports a colony of bungalows and a main lodge. I’m certain you will want to spend time at the lake while you are here this week—we book a week at a time. And do not worry about anything; the Wiccan Haus will provide everything you need.

She nodded, while contemplating the strangely perfect world around her—her amiable companion, the lush grass, and the perfectly blue sky. I’ve heard this is a place of spiritual and emotional healing. How does one heal here exactly? Could magic be involved? What could she expect?

It is true. Many have found what they seek or found what they didn’t even know they were looking for.

His gaze dropped to hers. She was thankful he didn’t ask why she was here.

"But how, you ask. Well, we have wonderful therapies like yoga, acupressure, fire cupping, hydrotherapy…just to name a few. In fact, you should consider taking one of Selena’s classes. I think the two of you would get along famously. He acted out the last word with an exaggerated wave of his hand, pulling it into a fist. Also, we do ask everyone attends dinner. It’s mandatory actually. As a result, you’ll get a chance to meet some interesting guests and make some friends."